Apparatus for cleaning vials and inserting a plunger into one end of each cleaned vial



Aug. 9, 1960 w. A. SHIELDS 2,948,004

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VIALS AND INSERTING A PLUNGER INTO ONE END OF EACH CLEANED VIAL Filed NOV. 22, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 HTTOENE 1950 w. A. SHIELDS 2,948,004

APPARATUSYFOR CLEANING vms AND mssa'rmc A PLUNGER INTO ONE END OF EACH CLEANED VIAL 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 22, 1955 INVENTOR. W. A. 8/: ieZds w HTTOE/VE Y Aug. 9, 1960, w. A. SHIELDS 2,943,004

APPARATUS FUR CLEANING VIALS AND INSERTING A PLUNGER INTO ONE END OF EACH CLEANED VIA]...

8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 22, 1955 a .4. f j

INVENTOR. W Sfiie/c/S if;

GENE Y Aug. 9, 1960 w. A. SHIELDS 8, 04

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VIALS AND INSERTING A PLUNGER INTO ONE END OF EACH CLEANED VIAL 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 22, 1955 I ll 1| nr 6) Q Q INVENTOR. W A .shzkrs 1960 w. A. SHIELDS 2,948,004

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VIALS AND INSERTING A PLUNGER INTO om: END OF EACH CLEANED VIAL Filed Nov. 22, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 HTTOE/VE Y Aug. 9, 1960 HIELDS 2,948,004

W. A. S APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VIALS AND INSERTING A PLUNGER INTO ONE END OF EACH CLEANED VIAL Filed NOV. 22, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 R ree/vs Y Aug. 9, 1960 w. A. SHIELDS NING VIALS AND INSERTING A PL 2,948,004 UNGER 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 APPARATUS FOR CLBA INTO ONE END OF EACH CLEANED VIAL Filed NOV. 22, 1955 ELITE.

Aug. 9, 1960 .SHIELDS APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VIALS AND INSER'IING A PLUNGER INTO ONE END OF EACH CLEANED VIAL Ticlil.

Filed Nov. 22, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 7 m 6/ v E 2 13' E ./57 6 5 5 2 g J 3/ j as A I V 7/ mmvrox W A S6 {@2478 HTTOE/VEY APPARATUS FOR CLEANING'V'IA-LS AND INSERT- use A PLUNGER INTO IONE END on EACH CLEANED vIAL Walter A. Shields, 181-=-4 1 Henley Road, Jamaica, .N.Y.

Filed Nov. 22, 1955, SerrNo. 548,368

1 aims te n 4) This invention relates .to apparatus for cleaning vials and inserting ,a plunger into one end of each cleaned vial prior to filling said vial with-:a medicament through .the opposite end and sealing .said opposite end. The opposite end of the vial ,is; sealed.by.a.closure cap adapted .to he punctured .and connected to .a hypodermic needle automatically present a traveling train of vials to a .se-

quence ,of operations whereby the vials are washed in a cleansing bath, rinsed, dried, ,one end of each dried vial is closed by a plunger; .and the vials closed pat-one ,end are again washed, rinsed and dried before removal .of .Said vials to means for filling andsealing the vials.

It .is another object of the invention to .aetuate vial transporting means and all of the operative devices from the samedrive shaft.

It ,is another object of the invention to intermittently actuate the vial transporting means and actuate the ,operative devices ,in timed seguenee to the intermittent actuation of the vial transporting means.

' :It is another object ,of the invention to transport the vials in an undulating path havin rises and .dips and providing the operative devices alternately at the ,1"ises and dips in the undulating path oftravel of the vials.

Another object of the invention is .to pivotally support a tank of cleansing liquid whereby the tank is lowered out .of the path of travel of the vials when itlis desired to change thecleansing liquid.

A further object f t e i vention is to simult neous y insert plungers into corresponding -endsof vials at spaced Points in the undulating path of travel .of the vials while holding said spaced vials a a nst longitudinal movement. .Other objects and advantages ,Of the invention willfllae described hereinafter.

In the drawings accompanying and lorming a part of thisapplication: Figure 1 a p rs e t ve view .of the nu ra us ing the embodirnenttof the invention;

:Fi ure 2 is a front elevational view o th ene a with a front wall removed and of pthe appanatus in T section;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale,

taken on the line "3-3 of Figure :1 looking in the direction of :the arrows "to show part of the 'vial transporting 2,948,004 Patented Aug. 9, 1960 means relation to a vial hopper, .a tank ,of cleansing liquid and brushes for scrubbing :the vials .on said part of the .vial transporting means;

:Iiigure 4 is -a frontelevational view ofthe brushes and ;part .of their actuating mechanism looking from the line A-4of ;Figure 3 in the direetion of the arrows;

Figure 5 v-isga [cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-'5.of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows to show means for inserting .plungers into corresponding ends of vials atspaced points inthe undulating path of .travel of the vials, .means for holding said spaced vials againstzlongitudin-al movement andmeans for imparting intermittent movement .to the vial transporting ns;

Figure 6 a plan view looking from theline 66 of Figure 5 in the directionpf the arrows :to show the connections between actuating means .for the means .to hold the spaced vials against longitudinal movement while plungers :are inserted into said vials and said holding mea s;

Figure .7 ,isa sectional plan view taken on theline 7--7 .of Figure v5 looking in the direction of the arrows to :show

,the .eonnection between actuating means for the plunger inserting .means :and said plunger inserting means;

Figure .8 is a cross-sectional view, onan venlarged-scale, taken on the line 8-8015 Figure 1 looking :in the direc- :tion ,o fthe arrows .to=show means i'or injecting in sequence different types of fluids into theend of each vial opposite theend closed by ;;a plunger;

Figure 9 is -a fragmentary front view of the means for injecting in sequence different .types of fluids looking .from the line -f9-.-.-9 of .Figure 8 in thedirection of-the arrows;

.Figure 10 is :an elevational view looking from the line 1M1!) oiFigure 5 of a train of gears .for imparting rota- .tion in opposite directions to adjacent peripherally re- .eessed disk mounted .in .a .train to form the dial transp t n means;

.Figure ,11 is .a partial .cross-sectional view of the apparatus, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line .1 1--,-11 of Figure .1 looking in the directionof the arrows'to show part .of the .vial transporting means in relation to means for discharging ;a rinse .into the vials supported by said Quart of .the vial transporting means subsequently to the scrubbing actions of the brushes shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 12 is 'a partial cross-sectional view of .the apparatus, on anenlarged scale, taken on the line 12-42 of Figure ,1 looking in thedirection ofthe arrows :to show part .of the vial transporting .means in relation to means for discharging jets of drying fluid into the vials supported by.said.pa1t1of the vial transporting means gsubvsequentl-y to the rinsing action of the means .shown in Figure .11.

In carrying .out .the invention illustrated in the accompanying Idrawings, there is provided a supporting structure comprising a table top 11 supported :bylegs .12 and ,a superstructure including a .front-wall 13 and a rear 14 of greater height than the front wall. Both the front and rear walls are extended upwardly from {the tabletop and are braced by a beam 15 at one end off-said walls. The superstructure .also includes a top 116 supported at the rear by the top edge of the rear :wall 14 V and at one end by an upright 17 supported by the table top 11 and braced from the front wall 13 by a .beam :18, asshown in FiguresZ and 9.

.Vials v are supplied to the apparatus from a hopper comprising a vertical rear wall 20, vertical side walls 21 and converging bottom walls 22 and 23 having the bottom edges spaced from each other to form a discharge opening of the hopper with thebottgim wall 23 f eater as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

' shown in Figures 2 and 3.

length and terminating in a horizontal plane below the plane of termination of the bottom wall 22, as shown in Figure 2. The inner face of the bottom edge of the bottom wall 22 is beveled, as at 25 in Figure 2, and the exterior of said bottom wall 22 is provided with a feed device shown in a generalway at 26 in Figure 2 to regulate the feed of vials in cooperation with the beveled face 25 to vial transporting means to be described hereinafter. The widths of the side walls 21 and the bottom walls 22, 23 are the same and are slightly greater than the lengths of the vials. The vials are stacked by hand in the hopper to extend lengthwise of the widths of the side walls 21 and the bottom walls 22, 23. The front of the hopper is shown to be open and is preferably closed by a transparent panel, not shown.

The vials are automatically transported from the hopper discharge opening 24 in an undulating path having rises and dips. This is accomplished by a train of laterally spaced disks having equidistantly spaced recesses in the peripheral portions of said disks and the recessed peripheral portions of adjacent laterally spaced disks traveling in overlapping vertical planes. The first of said laterally "spaced disks are represented by four disks 27 secured in pairs on a shaft 28 rotatably mounted at the opposite end portions in the front wall 13 and the rear wall 14, The peripheral portions of the disks 27 are arranged with equidistantly spaced recesses 29 with the recesses of each disk in horizontal alignment and the recessed peripheral portions of the disks extended into the hopper discharge opening 24, as The disks 27 are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and the vials picked-up in the hopper and removed therefrom by the rotation of the disks 27 are retained in the recesses 29 by arcuate guiderails 30 supported from the beam 15 by a bracket 31, as

shown in Figure 2. The forward wall of each recess 29 extends at an obtuse angle to the bottom wall of each recess 29 and the rear wall of each recess 29 extended I radially of the disk. This arrangement of the forward and rear walls of each recess 29 will facilitate the pickup of the vials in the hopper by the recesses. Four disks 27 are provided to further facilitate the pick-up of the vials by the recesses 29 and prevent canting of the vials on the disks 27.

While the vials are retained in the recesses 29 by the rails 30, said vials are immersed in a bath of cleansing liquid, such as a water solution of soda-ash and soap, contained in a tank 32 supported in a horizontal plane to have the vials retained in the recesses 29 by the rails 30 travel through the liquid in the tank 32. The tank 32 is adjustably supported on the table top 11 by a platform 33 having vertical flanges 34 along the side and rear edges to retain the tank on the platform. The platform 33 is adjustably mounted on the table top 11 by a pair of double hinge members 35, each hinge member having one pivoted portion secured to the table top 11, as at 36in Figure 3, and having the other pivoted portion secured to the bottom of the platform 33, as at 37 in Figure 3,-so that the platform 33 and the tank 32 are adjusted to juxtaposed position on the table top 11 when it is desiredto remove the tank from the apparatus for the purpose of changing the cleansing liquid. When the tank has been replenished with fresh cleansing liquid, the tank is placed on the platform 33 and the'platform is raised to extend in parallel spaced relation to the table top 11, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. To facilitate adjustment of the platform 33, handles 38 are provided at each end of the platform, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. To retain the platform 33 in raised position, a hook shaped latch 39 is pivoted on the front .wall 13 and adapted to engage the adjacent handle 38, as shown in "Figure 1. To facilitate removal of the tank 32 from the platform 33, the upper edges of the side walls of the tank are provided withflanges 40, as shown in Figure 3.

While the vials-are immersed in the cleansing liquid in the tank 32, the interior of each vial is scrubbed by a brush of an arcuate row of brushes 41 removably mounted in a head 42 supported by a bracket 43 secured to a block 44 slidably mounted on the shaft 28 and guided by a bar 45 secured at the ends to the rear wall 14 and the hopper rear wall 20, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The bar 45 also supports the hopper. The lock 44 is yieldingly urged toward'the disks 27 by a spring 46 anchored atone end to the hopper rear wall 20 and having the opposite end connected to an intermediate poi-- tion of a lever 47 pivoted at one end to the top wall 16 and having the opposite end pivotally connected to the block '44 by a link 48. The actuation of the block 44 by the spring 46 is controlled'by acam disk 49 secured on a drive shaft50 to engage a roller 51 mounted on a portion of the lever 47 between the spring 46 and the link 48. The engagement of the roller 51 with the low portion of the cam disk 49 will permit the spring 46 to move the brushes 41 into the vials. The engagement of the roller 51 with the high portion of the cam disk v49 will'move the brushes 41 out of the vials against the force of the spring 46. To retain the vials in the recesses 29 against longitudinal movement during reciprocation of the brushes into and out of the vials, plates 52 are suspended from the hopper to extend in parallel spaced relation to the outside disks 27, as shown in Figure 3. The inner plate 52 is arranged with an arcuate row of spaced openings 53 in alignment with the brushes 41 to permit travel of the brushes through said plate 52 and into the vials aligned with, said openings. In the present illustration of the invention, there are shown six brushes 41 and six openings 53, so that-all of the vials fully submerged in the cleansing liquid in the tank 32 are scrubbed three times during saidsubmersion due to the intermittent rotation of the disks 27 for a distance of two recesses 29 as fully described hereinafter. The

" brushes 41 are moved into and out of the vials during cesses 54 in the peripheral portions of two laterally spaced disks 55 secured on a shaft 56 rotatably supported at the opposite end portions in the front wall 13 and the rear wall 14 in a horizontal plane below the horizontal plane of the shaft 28, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 10. The peripheral portions of the disks 55 overlap the peripheral portions of the two middle disks 27 whereby the vials in the diskrecesses 29 are transferred to the disk recesses 54 by the rotation of the disks 27 in a counter-clockwise direction and the rotation of the disks 55 in a clockwise direction. The vials are transported by the disks 55 above the shaft 56. The vials are retained in the re-' cesses 54 against outward movement radially of the disks 55 while being transported by the disks 55 by an arcuate rail 57 supported by a bracket 58 secured to the hopper wall 23 in a vertical plane extending between the disks 55 and inan arc encircling the path of travel of the vials on the disks 55. The vials in the recesses 54 are retained against longitudinal movement while being trans ported by the disks 55 by arcuate plates 59 extending on the outsides of the disks in lateral alignment with the path of travel of the vials on the disks 55 and supported by the bracket 58, as shown in Figure ll. The guide plate 59 furthest from the front wall 13 is arranged with a jacket 60 corresponding in shape to said plate 59 and connected by a conduit 61.to a source of supply of a Time; 9 9; i l?! from a hot water heater, not

sho n: i ck th! and it s ppo t gu e r ate59 are a range w th Qrifices =62 inla e alig m t the aEQSLPOSgllZlQIlS of the vials on the disks 55 whereby jets of --th,e;1dnse are discharged into the vials. The side walls .913 :the recesses 4 are in reversed order to the arrangeuncut 9f the sidewalls :ofthe recesses 29 whereas the io 'twaiidtwallof each recess 54 extends at an obtuse angle and zthelrlear wall extends radially-of the disks 55.

After the vials are thoroughly rinsed, they are transinteract! to tequidistantly spaced recesses 63 in the peripheral portions of two laterally spaced disks 64 secured on a -65 trotata-bly supported by the front wall 13 and the. rear Mall :14 to extend in substantially thesarne horizontal!l'plane as the shaft 28, as shown in Figures -1,

:and 1,0. Ihe recessed peripheral portions of the disks 54 pyerlap the recessed peripheral portions of the disks 55 whereby the :vials inlthe recesses 54 after leaving the last orificefiz are tr nsferred o th rece es 63 ;by the tclockwise rotationof the disks 5-55 and the counter-clockar iserrotation ,ofzthe disks 64,. The vials are tran p r e l y the .disks 464 helow the shaft .654. The sid walls of the recesses :63 are arranged in the same manner as the side Wallswof the recesses 29 in that the forward walls are :at an obtuse ang e to the bottom walls an the rear mallsarerad-ially of the disks ,64. The vials are retained till dhegreeesses 63 against outward movement radially voftthe dislgs 64 by an arcuate rail ,66 supported in a -.\r ertical plane between the disks 64 and in an arc enaeireling ttherpath of tra velof thevials on said disks. The 'nials'are also retained in the re sse 63 ag i t n ztl dina movem n .hy .arcuate guide ap s 1. .7 orme by 'cOutinuing the g id pl tes 59" to xten along the o tsides of the path zQ tr v l of the vi l on th disks 1.64-

'Ih gu-ide "pla e :67 fur h t fr m he fron a l 13 i provide with a jacket 68 c nnect d y o 69 @sou1'C.6iOf.1 PP1y of drying fluid under pressure, such as an air compre s r, ot sh wn The j c t 68 and associated plate 67 are proyided with eqnidistantly spaced and al gn d rific s 70 i la e a lig me t wit th r s tr nsitions ofthe vials on t e d s 6 t discharge j ts of and 55, ,as shown in Figures 1,2 and 10. The recessed l e inheral portion of t e dis s 2 ov lap t .reo se peripheral portions of the jdjsks 64. i The disks 72 are a itated in '..a sl ehwi e direc o an he a l o th rece se 71 ar arran d in h sam manner as h reces es 54 in th re o k i e ro at n disks 5 h yials are transported by the disks 72, in an arcuate path ey th shaf .3,- The v als a e a ne in t re ess s ag in ou w r m vemen r a y o e ks 7 shy a 'pair r s i n fi er 7 mount d n a racket .75 se n d t th fron -w l as h w n g e =6. The-y s ar re ained in t e es 7 agai s l gitudin l niovenient by a bl 7 ppo t d t the outside of the disk 72 furthest from the front wall '13 by two pedestals 77 supported by the table t p S hQW i Figures 2, 5,- 6 and 7, and by a plate 78 at the outside 9f the disk 72 nearest the front wall 13. The end of each vial in the recesses 71 adjacent the block 76 is closed by a resilient plunger p supplied from a pair of hoppers 79 mounted on the vtop wall 16 of the superstructure and having discharge openings in the bottoms in which feed wheels 80 are rotatably mounted to suceessive y di ch r e p n g r nd g lengthwise i o sets rsinsltan a ly intoigianr shs ii s lyhiss ztegs se flllswhil the dish aretatre tth r sen illu ation of th in sh a rss I s' a l asl shamans s e t as s wn in iss hut-tbs it .se h t-ra h sa dss sss the b no d end n lo h eth iste nit sn n e s! he h B6 is y elding y h gedltoward the block 761by a an s ahsh e a has an a a moun s ea t e to? h 16 sss lth ap and 20 :of the spring is .connected to .an upper portion ofthe ast sha l w t s l ta mou tin htsaid le e as b rod sjfi are yieldinglyhrged to insert the n L B rnese mo m i the rods 33 y akaani dish?!) secured on y at150ten ia a 1 an t e r 8 s the w n s a th l nk 4 h e dis sh portion a: gre te tateuate length than t so that thelperr d in gthergods 83 are has. an n it t a li se sl h t s-s a thee te 3 A theltors of th ssnn 88 i l n han gPQl'lQd whi h th nadsfie 'areni ed F- t l9yl ii ll a e s tsl h t r nte l o f h the asses or i h sh $18 a shown i f r I fl dais ,a 'gain tl.

t a pair of slots t th fihnerhfa e f s .15 andufif Each h s 5 seats a e om tl p a a 9 ha n the par s sa r htall s n e t th lowe e ti a rs 99 nir tally 'stii islfi -h ers ai of he th 11 IL sl of the top 4 ea h le r! syielding' y 8t iby spring 1 0 lane; reda all 14hr a br aker .101 and h on os sand of th p g' s hn o edto an i'in ermediate ,P i wh h the-.sh t ns e or m V f the l yer 9 "f is sli glv a s hi 'gsrne flwith the vials; h a ntmeht an? oy d awayl om the jim il an to ly'with he .inoyenient 9 the rod 3 away :;frqrh the e' ieal line of teed o the P1 \ga s P in the Qohnt 8 h a p i .of can disks 02 l l' il n h dr v shaft -50 n opposite side of th disk 90 an fl a'g n ro l s lln th l ve s 9.2; Th ro l rs 103 a .i .tr' 1$; P the d in sha t .50 andthe rolle 1 isv a the rea Lot t ed g e shaft so t at the high port on o the ham disks 0} are on one 'ide t thed mi e sha tSU n the high portion o h k ,99 i .QH the L PPQS- sai o .sai riueaft hy thef isih Portions o th "Ldiskl 2 and 1,02 w 1 imultaneous y eh ag t seller 21am .103 IQ P Qfil r Y; a ni ye th -l l 33 e rin yer ral l ne or feed hf the plunser p in h hopper 8 1 and gnoye the abntrnents 92tfron1 the thi n asshomi hi sts 5H an 7- r r a i has th i l lsareh s dedlw h the nhin s :1, they ca e tran ien ed tram the rece ses 71 'iQtfiQl-fififiihflfl snaeeldheeesses 1M inthe peripheralportions 19f apairtof Llaterailly;spaced disks 105"secured ona'shaft 106 rotat- 1 ably mounted at the oppositeend portions on the front wall 13 and the rear wall 1 4 to extend in substantially the same horizontal plane 'as theshafts 28 and 65, as

shown in Figures 1, 2 and-10. The peripheral portions of the disks 105 overlap the, peripheral portions of the disks 72. The disks 105.are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction-andthe forward wall of eachrece'ss 104 'extends atan'obtus'e angleyto" the bottom wall and the "rear wall of'each recess 104 extends radially ofthe; disks 105 in the same manner as the. recesses 29 and 63. The

vials are transported'by. thedisks 105 .in an arcuate path ,below the shaftf106; 'The vials are retained in the recesses' 104 against .radi'al movement outwardly of the disks 105 by anarcu'ate rai1'107 extending ina vertical plane between the disks 105 and encircling the path of .travel of the vials v in the-recesses 104. No operation is performed on thevials while they are in the recesses '104. The vials are transferred from the recesses 71 to the recesses 104-by the clockwiserotation of the disks 72 'and' thecounter-clockwise rotation'of the disks 105.

The vials v are transferred from'the recesses 104,to

' equidistantly spaced recesses 108 in the peripheral 'portions of a pair of laterally spaced disks 109 secured on a shaft 110 rotatably mountedfat the opposite end portions on the front wall 13 and the rear wall 14 to extend substantially in the horizontal plane of the shaft 56, as shown in Figures 1, 2. and 10. Thedisks 109 are rotated in a clockwise direction and the recesses 108 are .arranged in the same manner as the recesses 54 and 71. The peripheralportions' of the disks I109 overlaps the peripheral portions of the disksj105. The vials are transferred from the recesses 10410 the recesses 108 by thecounter-clock- ,wise rotation of the 105 and the clockwise rotation of the disks 109. The vialsare. retained in the recesses 108 against longitudinal movement by an arcuate plate 111 adjacent to the outside of the disk 109 furthest from the front wall 13 to engage the ends of the vials v closed by the plungers p, asfshown in Figure 8. The vials v are retained in the recesses 108 against radial movement outwardly of the disks 109 by an arcuate rail 112 extending in a vertical plane between the disks 109 and encircling the path of travel of the vials inthe recesses 108.

To facilitate insertion'of the. plungers p into'fthe vialsj v,

the plungers are coated with a lubricant, such as glycerin, and said lubricant will havea tendency to flow into the vials. As the vials are to contain a medicament, it is essential thatlthey are free of foreign substances, and

therefore it'is necessary to remove said lubricant before filling the vialswith the medicament. This operation is performed while" the vials are in the recesses 108 and is accomplished in the'following manner: A plate 113 is slida-bly-mounted on a pair of rails 114 supported by the front wall 13 and the top wall 16, as shown in Figures 8 V and 9. The slidefplate 113 is provided with a lateral projection-115 'at'its' front end extending in a vertical plane spaced from the outside of the disk 109 nearest the front wall 13 and arrang'e'dwith an arcuate edge extending in the arc of said disk 109, as shown at 116 in Figures 2, 8' and 9. A'seri'es of needle-like nozzles 117 are mounted in the projection 115 in an ,arcuate row adjacent to and conforming with 'the arcuate edge 116. An end portion of each nozzle 117 is extended a short distance from the front face of the projection 115 for connecting a right-angle coupling '118'to said nozzle. Each coupling 118 is connected by a flexible hose 119to a source of supply of three different types of fluids. These sources of supplies are connected to three separate junction-boxes 120, 121 and 122, each box having two outlet nipples "123. A hose 119 is connected to each nipple 123, as

shown in Figures 1, 2 8 and 9. The box 120 is connected to a source of supply of hot water, such as a hot 1 }water heater, not shown. The box 121 is connected to a f. source of supply of distilled water under pressure, such 'z as aipump connectedto. the outlet ofa distilled water hoses 119 to the first two couplings 118 in the extension 115 commencing from the left hand side of said extension as seen in Figure 9, whereby jets of hot water are injected into two vials by the nozzles 117 connected to said first two couplings and inserted into said vials to loosen the lubricant from the inner walls of said vials. The box'121 is connected by two of the hoses 119 totlie second two couplings 118 in the extension 115 whereby jets of distilled water are injected into the next two vials by the nozzles 117 connected to said second two couplings and inserted into said vials to germicidally clean said vials. The box 122 is connected by two of the hoses 119 to the third two couplings 118 in the extension 115 whereby jets of air are injected into the next two vials by the nozzles 117 connected to said thirdtwo couplings and inserted into said vials to dry the vials. The lengths of the hoses 119 are sufiicient to permit fre'e sliding movement of the plate113. Each of the nozzles 117 has an end portion extended from the rear face of the extension 115 and slida'bly supported by an arcuate guide plate 124 fixedly mounted to extend in a vertical plane adjacent to the open end of the vials in the recesses 108. The nozzles 117 are moved into and out of thevials when the disks 109 are at their period of rest by a lever 125 pivoted at the upper end portion on the top wall 16 and having the lower'end portion pivotally connected to the plate 113 by a link 1219. The lower end portion of the lever 125 is yieldingly urged toward the rear wall by a spring 127 anchored at one end to the rear wall'14 and having the opposite end connected to an intermediate portion of the lever 125. The spring 127 will move all of the nozzles 1 17 simultaneously into the vials v. The nozzles 1 17 are simultaneously moved out of the vials and the movement of the nozzles 117 into a the vials by the spring 127 is controlled by a cam disk 128 secured on the drive shaft to engage a roller 129 on the lever 125 adjacent to the pivotal connection with the link 126; 'The cam disk 128 has a high portion of greater extent than the low portion whereby the noules 117 are positioned out of the vials for a longer period than the period of moving the nozzles 117 into and out of the vials by the spring 127 and the roller 129 riding 7 onto and off the low portion of the cam disk 128 to permit the intermittent rotation of the disks 109.

After the vials are germicidally cleaned by the jets of fluids injected therein by the nozzles 117, said vials are removed from the recesses 108 by a tray 130 having side walls 131 to retain the'vials on the tray and said tray is supported to extend in a horizontal plane by a bracket 132 secured to the beam 18, as shown in Figures 2 and 9. The forward end of the tray extends between the disks 109 and in a plane tangential to the arc of the bottom walls of the recesses 108 and the edge of the tray at said end is beveled to engage the successive vials in the recesses 108 after leaving the last of the nozzles '117 and remove said vials from said recesses, as shown at 133 in Figure 9. The vials are moved along the tray 130 by successive vials leaving the recesses 108 and delivered by the tray to an appropriate depository or filling and sealing apparatus, not shown.

The disks 27, 55, 64, 72, .105 and 109 are of the same diameter and arranged with the same number of recesses 29, 54, 63, 71, 104 and 108, respectively.

The disks 27, 55, 64, 72, 105 and 109 are intermittently and simultaneously rotated with the disks 27,64 and 105 being rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and the 137, 138 and 139 fixed respectively on the end portions of said shafts extended exteriorly of therear wall 14." The gears are enclosed by a housing. 140 mountedonithe mesa e rterior of said rear wall, as shown in figures 3, 5, 8, 10, 1'1 and 12. The drive shaft 50 is connected to the shaft 73 to impart intermittent movement to said shaft 73 and the other shafts 28, 56, .65, 106 and 110 through the meshing gears 134, 135, 136,137, 138 and 139. This is accomplished by a ratchet wheel 141 having one tooth for every two of the recesses 71, that is. if there are thirty recesses 71, there will be fifteen teeth in the wheel 141, whereby one intermittent movement of the ratchet wheel .will move the disks 27, 55, 64, 72, 105 and 109 a distance equal to the space of two recesses 29, 54, 63, 71, 104 and 108, respectively. The ratchet wheel 141 is secured on the shaft 73 and intermittently rotated by a pawl 142 pivoted on an intermediate portion of a lever 143 rotatably mounted at one end portion on the shaft 73. The opposite end portion of the lever 143 is provided with a roller 144 yieldingly urged by a spring 145 to ride on a cam disk 146. The pawl 142 is yieldingly urged by'a spring 147 to engage successive teeth of the ratchet wheel. The cam disk 146 is secured on a shaft 148 rota-tably mounted on the rear wall 14 and in a cross-piece 1.49 supported between parallelly spaced arms 150 mounted on the rear wall 14. The arms 150 are arranged with bearings 151 to support the drive shaft 50. The shaft 148 is continuously rotated by the drive shaft 50 through beveled gearing 152, Figure 2. The continuous rotation of the shaft 148 will continuously rotate the cam disk 146 and reciprocate the lever 143. The movement of the lever 143 to the right, as seen in Figure 2, will move the pawl 142 and ratchet wheel 141 one step and the movement of the lever 143 to the left will impart retrograde movement to the pawl 143 which will ride over the ratchet wheel tooth without imparting movement to the ratchet wheel. To hold the shaft 73 against movement during the retrograde movement of the pawl 142, there is provided a disk 153 having notches 154 equidistantly spaced in the peripheral portion of the disk 153 in lateral alignment with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 141. The disk 153 is secured on the shaft 73 and the notches 154 are successively positioned by the intermittent rotation of the shaft 73 to be engaged by a roller 155 carried by an intermediate portion of a lever 156 rotatably mounted at one end on the shaft 106. The roller 155 is yieldingly urged toward the periphery of the disk 153 into engagement with one of the notches 154 by a spring 157 anchored at one end to one of the arms 150 and the opposite end connected to the end of the lever 156 opposite the end rotatably mounted on the shaft 106. The roller 155 is periodically disengaged from a notch 154 to permit rotation of the shaft 73 by the pawl 142. This is accomplished by a cam disk 158 secured on the shaft 148 to engage a roller 159 on the lever 156 adjacent to the spring 157 and actuate the lever 156 to move the roller 155 out of the notch 154 against the force of the spring 157.

The drive shaft 50 is supported in adidtion to the bearings 151 by a bearing 160 on the beam 15 and a bearing 161 on a cross-piece 162 secured at the ends to the upright 17 and the rear wall 14.

The drive shaft 50 is continuously rotated by a reduction-geared motor 163 mounted on a shelf 164 supported by the table legs 12. The motor 163 is connected to the drive shaft 50 by a belt 165 enclosed by a housing 166 supported by the cross-piece 162, the table top 11 and the shelf 164, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The tray 130 is supported in addition to the bracket 132 from the shelf 164 by a brace 167.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for cleaning open ended vials and insertmittent movement of said transporting means a distance corresponding "totheuniform spacing o-f the openings, rav tati nally act n QPQill8 a ssed ab s id ansport ng. m f... nrs ad a ent the in: at sa d uadula s path. sa loca s! b lew he v sliverins mass. a i ntf t fir dip n: h undulatin ii t for slsaniaa t ials ater adjacent the first rise in the undulating path for supplying rinse fluid, means adjacent the second dip in the undulating path for supplying drying fluid, means adjacent the second rise in the undulating path for inserting a plunger in one end of each vial to close said one end, means at the ascending side of vthe third rise of the undulating path to inject a sequence of different types of fluids, including a cleaning fluid, into the end of each vial opposite the closed end, and means for receiving the vials from the transporting meansas they leave the crest of the third rise in the undulating path, a plurality of cams mounted on said drive shaft for operating said vial cleaning means, said plug inserting means and said fluid injecting means during rest periods in the intermittent movement of said transporting means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vial transporting means comprises a train of laterally spaced disks rotatably mounted to rotate in vertical planes with the peripheral portions of succeeding laterally spaced disks overlapping and wherein the space openings are recesses to support w'als parallel to the axes of rotation of the disks and transfer the vials from laterally spaced disks to succeeding laterally spaced disks, and wherein the means for intermittently moving said vial transporting means causes step by step rotation of said disks.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the axes of rotation of the adjacent laterally spaced disks lie in different horizontal planes.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the means causing step by step rotation of said disks advances the disks a distance equal to two of the recesses therein.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means to receive the vials from the transporting means subsequent to the injection of the different types of fluids into said vials comprises a tray extending in a horizontal plane tangentially to the arc of the bottom walls of the recesses ing a plunger into one end of each cleaned vial, transof the sixth laterally spaced disks in the train of disks.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means to insert a plunger into one end of each vial comprises a head slidable toward and away from one side of the plane of the undulating path, a pair of parallel spaced rods carried by the head, a pivoted lever operatively connected to the head, yieldingly urged to move the rods to insert plunger-s into one end of spaced vials on the transporting means and reciprocated by one of the cams on the drive shaft to move the rods from the vials, a pair of parallel spaced abutments slidable toward and away from the opposite side of the plane of the undulating path, and a pivoted lever connected to each of said abutments, yieldingly urged to engage the abutments with the opposite ends of the vials while the plungers are inserted into the first ends of said vials and reciprocated by one of the cams on the drive shaft to move the abutments from the vials.

7. Apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the means to inject in sequence different types of fluids comprises a plate slidable toward and away from one side of the plane of the undulating path, a plurality of nozzles carried by the plate in alignment wtih the vials on the transporting means, sources of supplies of said different types of fluids, a flexible hose connecting a source of supply with a nozzle, and a pivoted lever operatively connected to the plate, yieldingly urged to move the plate toward the path of travel of the vials and the nozzles into the vials and reciprocated by one of the cams on the drive shaft to move the plate and nozzles from the vials.

(References on following page) 1 1 w References Cited in tlie file of this pat ent V 7 2,459,954 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Routson Dec. 12, 1905 Jaycox Dec. '7, 1909 5 Knight May6, 1924 V 1 Hansen 0a. 12, 1926 391,1;20 679,163

12 Morgan Jan. 24, 1949 Martin Apr. 17, 1951 Varga July 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 Great Britain May 4, 1933 Germany July 3-1, 1939 

